U.S. Ranger comeback looks like a done deal!

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Talking to a Ford source the other day, assured me that the Ranger with a diesel option is the next new truck launch after they get the 2017 Super Duty in full production. Looks like they'll be some delay while they find a new home for the Focus and other vehicles built at Michigan Assembly Plant though. Sounds like there's no plans for a new cab for the F650 and up, everything will get the F150 based aluminum cab... The millennials will feel right at home! No word on a return of the Cargo, hard to believe Ford is going to let Chevy have that market. Perhaps there's a non-compete clause from when they sold the European heavy truck biz to IVECO?

[kscarbel2]

More like Ford Australia-designed global Ford Ranger is (finally) coming to the North American market, the only global region that Ford has excluded it from.

There are 2 diesel options, the 2.2L 4-cylinder and the 3.2L 5-cylinder. Will both be offered in the US market?

While the 3.2L is a blast, I can assure all that the 2.2L has plenty of power to satisfy most people's expectations, with of course the better fuel economy.

Hopefully its SUV stablemate, the Everest, will join it. I hope they don't rebadge it as Bronco. The Bronco is a signature Ford product, but the Everest is not a Bronco. The appearance is all wrong, for being a Bronco.

About Iveco, that was years ago. Any non-compete clause has expired, and that would have only pertained to the (western) European market.

I predict the new-for-2016 Avon Lake F-650/750 will retain the steel Super-Duty cab until the next refresh. And since it's a low-volume, low-priority product, that could be 5 years down the road.

[Red Horse]

TeamsterGrrrl/KSC

Hope you are both correct on the Ranger.  as for 650/750, KSC you might be right on it continuing to be the sole vehicle using the old steel SD cab.  But think about it?- they are going to truck aluminum cabs to OAP for 350-550 and also truck steel SD cabs for 650/750?

doesn't maker a lot of sense to me.

[TeamsterGrrrl]

intentionally or not, Ford sort of let GM test the market for a compact pickup. Perhaps Ford is waiting to let GM test the market for a low tilt cabover too? 

[kscarbel2]

Both Ford and International had a important place in their portfolios for a solid low-cab-forward (LCF), and still do !

I was rather shocked when they launched the Ford LCF and International CF/CityStar with that cramped Mazda "Titan" cabin.

First you had that small, cramped cab, then you had the noisy VT275 4.5-liter Navistar V-6 diesel, and finally you had a dealer body that didn't know how to sell such an important new addition to their line-up.

Why couldn't Ford have put their heart into it and fund a cutting edge new LCF cab........with American characteristics ?

Ford sold the LCF from 2006 to 2009*. The inline 5-cylinder Ford 3.2L Duratorq TDCi was available from 2006 rated at 200hp and 350 lb-ft, and Ford should have used it (Today in the 2017 US market Transit, the 3.2L is still rated at 350 lb-ft ).

Ford has also built it's 3.0L "Lion" V-6 diesel rated at 237, 251 and 271hp, and 330, 370 and 440 lb-ft. The F-150 will (finally) be offered with a version of that.

* The International CF/CityStar was launched earlier, sold from 2004 thru 2009. 

[Red Horse]

Ford Dealer friend of mine liked the LCF- I believe his gripe was the motor which I believe was a 6.0 PS with two cylinders cut off?? KS-yur comment on using the 3.2 duratorque makes sense but wasn't the LCF built in the Bluediamond plant?  and Navistar had their piece of the action as far as the motor goes-not likely they woud have supported losing the engine revenue I would think.

[kscarbel2]

On 8/7/2016 at 3:41 AM, Red Horse said:

Ford Dealer friend of mine liked the LCF- I believe his gripe was the motor which I believe was a 6.0 PS with two cylinders cut off?? KS-yur comment on using the 3.2 duratorque makes sense but wasn't the LCF built in the Blue Diamond plant?  and Navistar had their piece of the action as far as the motor goes-not likely they woud have supported losing the engine revenue I would think.

Yes Bob, it was built at the Blue Diamond plant in Escobedo.

My thought is, both Navistar and Ford had applicable engines in their portfolios in 2006.........and they chose the wrong one.

When Navistar announced on January 13, 2009 that the two companies would end their diesel engine supply agreement effective Dec. 31, 2009, that was the death knell for the slow selling LCF/CityStar.

Again, there has always been a US market demand for low cab forwards. Ford and Navistar really botched a great opportunity from A to Z.

[kscarbel2]

Ford Australia leads Bronco development

Motoring Australia  /  November 9, 2016

Ford’s most anticipated SUV, the reincarnated Bronco, is being developed right here in Australia alongside the next-generation Ranger on which it will be based.

Much has been written about the new-generation Bronco, an iconic off-road SUV not produced for 20 years, since a US union official let slip last month (see below) that it will be built alongside the Ranger ute in Detroit.

Now, motoring.com.au sources have confirmed that Ford’s Victorian-based Asia-Pacific Product Development Centre is deep into the development of the reborn Bronco, which will be a direct rival for next year’s new-generation Jeep Wrangler.

Apart from developing a series of key regional models like the Figo, Escort and next Taurus, Ford’s Aussie-based design and engineering operation is the ‘homeroom’ for the T6 ladder platform that underpins the Blue Oval’s global Ranger.

As such, it is responsible for engineering all T6-based products including the Ranger ute (aka. pickup, bakkie), which is built in Thailand, South Africa, Brazil and, from 2018, North America — but won’t be shared with other manufacturers, including Mazda, in its next generation.

The T6 platform also underpins the Everest SUV.

Indeed, Ford has made no secret other vehicles will be born of the program and a number of heavily camouflaged Ranger and Everest vehicles are already being tested at the company’s You Yang proving ground at Lara near Geelong (Victoria).

These vehicles are largely early engineering prototype versions of the next-generation Ranger. But some are also early mules for the all-new Bronco, which will follow Ranger into production in the USA around 2020. Both models will be based on a reworked version of the current Ranger/Everest T6 platform.

At this stage, it’s unclear whether the new-age Bronco, a model that was produced over five generations in the US between 1966-96, will be produced in right-hand drive for markets outside North America.

However, given the world’s penchant for SUVs and the fact both the T6 Ranger and Everest are sold worldwide, the sixth-generation Bronco is almost certain to be a global model.

It could also be produced alongside our Ranger in Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with Australia. This would aid Ford’s intention to position the 2020 Bronco as an affordable 4×4 wagon positioned between Ford’s belated Territory replacement, the 2018 Edge, and the $55,000-plus Everest.

In the spirit of its predecessor, which was originally based on a shortened F-Series ladder frame, the 21st Century Bronco is expected to be based on a short-wheelbase version of the revised T6 ladder frame and will likely share all of the Ranger’s mechanicals.

That should mean four- and five-cylinder diesel engines (and potentially a petrol V6 for the US market) matched to manual and automatic transmissions comprising a low-range transfer case, which would make it an instant hit with off-road enthusiasts.

Ford is yet to officially confirm the existence of a new Bronco. Letting the cat of the bag, however, United Automobile Workers union boss Bill Johnson did it for the Blue Oval when he defended the moving of Focus production from Michigan to Mexico.

“We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and the Bronco coming to Michigan Assembly, that absolutely secures the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does,” he told the Detroit Free Press.

All five generations of the Bronco were built at Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne outside Detroit – the same plant where Ford will produce the Aussie-developed Ranger from 2018 and the born-again Bronco from 2020.

The new Bronco’s final exterior design, which will be different to the Everest, is likely to be signed off at Ford’s Dearborn HQ in the US.

Ford has purchased Rubicon versions of Jeep’s existing Wrangler two-door and Wrangler Unlimited four-door for benchmarking purposes.

This suggests the new Bronco will not only be available in both two-door and four-door body styles, but that Ford is targeting class-leading off-road capabilities for its all-new off-road SUV.

Previous Broncos (which were produced in Australia between 1981 and 1987, and powered by locally-made 4.0-litre six-cylinder and 5.8-litre V8 engines) were available in half-cab, roadster and wagon forms.

[theakerstwo]

My ranger is about ready to replace but the price may tell me i need to keep this one some more.

[kscarbel2]

I had my heart set on a US market Everest (diesel). But based on this article, we're not getting the global market Everest. The Bronco, in concept, is as signature a Ford product as the Mustang. However, I wanted an Everest. 

[TeamsterGrrrl]

As far as the Bronco name goes, just because Ford still has model names from the 60s trademarked doesn't mean they should use them... Look at what a flop the "500" was. I too fear we'll see only gas engines here, what with all the EPA hassles facing diesels. Won't be cheap either, I suspect pricing will be similar to similarly equipped Canyon/Colorados. I'm willing to spend $30k-40k for a diesel Ranger, but if gas is the only option I'll probably pass.

[Red Horse]

6 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

I had my heart set on a US market Everest (diesel). But based on this article, we're not getting the global market Everest. The Bronco, in concept, is as signature a Ford product as the Mustang. However, I wanted an Everest. 

Kevin,

Seems like I've seen enough press info that does NOT rule out the Everest.  IMO, we are flooded with unibody crossovers.  It would seem there is a market for a unique true SUV-old school Explorer.  Might not sell in Westchester county NY but plenty of other places where people appreciate a true off road capable vehicle-I hope